8.
Buckskin Replacement

Uprights,
consoles, and spinets only

This buckskin covers the end of the stump coming away from the hammer butt.
The leather acts as a brake when it contacts the face of the back check, and
this is important when you hold a note down to sustain it. This process allows
the hammer to reset and be ready for another blow without hesitation. Buckskin
is also used to cover the back checks in a grand piano, and it is used to cover
the roller attached to the shank of grand pianos. In this case, you will do
better to buy new rollers.

Remove all the old leather from the stump before putting the new leathers
on. It may not be necessary to do them all, especially in the high treble and
low bass. The lower end of the leather is tucked into a groove or wedged back
under its wood mounting. Clean out as much as you can of this leather.

It is not too smart to improvise with a felt substitute or leather you salvaged
from other applications. This buck skin is made for the piano trade and is very
durable.

Cut the new THIN leather pieces with scissors so that they are exactly
the dimensions of the face of the wood mount, and make them shorter than the
originals. You don't have to put on as much leather as the factory did, but
be sure the top of the leather is at the top of the wood mount. Taper the lower
end of the leather pieces so that they can be glued down tight and out of the
way of other moving parts.

Glue the leathers on with Elmer's carpenter's glue, not the pure white
stuff, and BE SURE the rough side is out so that it will have maximum friction
with the back check. You may have to work slowly, holding each buckskin until
it stays flush and tight on the wood mount.